Crash of a Partenavia P.68C on Mt Geitarhilđ: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1995 at 1416 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-VEN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Reykjavik - Selfoss
MSN:
284
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
800
Captain / Total hours on type:
15.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2824
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Reykjavik Airport on a schedule flight to Selfoss, Southern Region. While flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Geitarhilđ located near Lake Kleif, about 20 km south of Reykjavik. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S off Vestmannaeyjar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1994 at 2102 LT
Registration:
N9082N
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Biggin Hill – Reykjavik
MSN:
500-3068
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was repatriating the aircraft from Kinshasa, Zaire, to the US. On the leg from Biggin Hill to Reykjavik, while approaching the Icelandic coast, the left engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Vestmannaeyjar Airport. While circling for landing, the right engine failed as well. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in the sea few km offshore. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the cause of the dual engine failure was the presence of a foreign material in the airframe fuel filters, causing restriction of the fuel flow and fuel starvation to both engines.

Crash of a Rockwell Turbo Commander 680V in Keflavik

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1990
Registration:
N444GB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Frobisher Bay – Reykjavik
MSN:
680-1565-21
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
15.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Iceland on a ferry flight from Frobisher Bay, the crew declared an emergency due to fuel shortage and requested the permission to divert to Keflavik Airport. On final approach to runway 29, both engines failed simultaneously. The aircraft stalled and crashed on a road located 1,500 meters short of runway. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot's experience on this type of aircraft was limited to 15 hours and he failed to calculate the fuel consumption correctly prior to departure from Frobisher Bay. It was determined that he calculated the flight as being 7 hours and 15 minutes while the autonomy of this aircraft is 8 hours and 20 minutes. Investigations revealed that both engines failed after six hours and 15 minutes of flight. Poor flight planning and preparation were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 in Reykjavik: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1988 at 1742 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GILU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ottawa – Goose Bay – Narsarsuaq – Reykjavik – Nantes
MSN:
245
YOM:
1982
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
4049
Circumstances:
The CASA 212 was bought by Geoterrex in 1983 and registered in Canada in 1985. The plane had been extensively modified for aerial survey work. These modifications consisted of two probes mounted on the fuselage above the cockpit and extending 10 feet in front of the aircraft nose, a l6-foot tail boom, and two wing tip pylons. The probes, pylons, and tail boom served to support a wire loop antenna which ran around the aircraft. In July 1988 the plane was prepared for a ferry flight across the Atlantic to Nantes, France. For the purposes of this ferry trip, the survey loop antenna and the wing tip pylons had been removed and stowed in the main cabin area. For this configuration a special ferry permit was necessary, but the company did not apply for one. On July 31, 1988 the aircraft departed Ottawa and arrived at Goose Bay later that day. On 2 August 1988, the aircraft departed Goose Bay at 09:05 UTC and arrived at Narsarsuaq, Greenland at 12:50 UTC. The aircraft was refuelled and departed one hour later at 13:50 UTC for Reykjavik, Iceland, at a planned altitude of FL130. Although the pilot’s instrument rating had expired and the co-pilot did not possess one, the crew filed an IFR flight plan to Reykjavik. The weight of the aircraft was about 3,000 pounds above the maximum authorized takeoff weight on takeoff from Narsarsuaq. At Reykjavik, the crew flew an ILS approach to runway 20. During the approach, the flaps were set at approximately 25 degrees, 15 degrees above the approved maximum of 10 degrees. Approximately one-half mile from the runway threshold, the aircraft entered a steep turn to the right, and the nose of the aircraft dropped sharply. The aircraft continued to turn to the right through 270 degrees and descended rapidly until it struck the ground approximately 900 feet short of the runway threshold. The aircraft burst into flames shortly after impact.
Probable cause:
The crew lost control of the aircraft most probably because of large fluctuations in the power output of the right engine caused by the shift of an incorrectly installed speeder spring in the right propeller governor.

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20D off Keflavik

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1987 at 1852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EC-EFI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
West Palm Beach – Bedford – Goose Bay – Keflavik
MSN:
189
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Recently purchased by the Spanish operator Drenair, the aircraft departed West Palm Beach, Florida, on a delivery flight to Spain, carrying four passengers and two pilots. After a fuel stop in Bedford, Massachusetts, and Goose Bay, Newfoundland, the aircraft continued to Keflavik, Iceland. While approaching Keflavik, the crew declared an emergency due to fuel exhaustion, informed ATC about his position and ditched the aircraft approximately 70 km southwest of Keflavik. All six occupants were quickly rescued by the crew of a helicopter while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew encountered strong and unexpected headwinds, causing a higher fuel consumption than calculated. Due to fuel exhaustion, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft. It is unclear if both engines failed or not prior to ditching.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain off Isafjördur: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1987 at 1956 LT
Operator:
Registration:
TF-ORN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Akureyri – Isafjörđur
MSN:
31-7952174
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
1929
Captain / Total hours on type:
156.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Isafjörđur Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to the night and poor weather conditions. While trying to locate the airport, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in the sea about six km offshore. The aircraft sank and was lost and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Höfn

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-RTR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
31-68
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Höfn-Hornafjörður Airport runway 36, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a river located about 200 meters from the runway end. All occupants were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander in Egilsstadir: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TF-RTO
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bakkafjördur – Egilsstađir
MSN:
142
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Egilsstađir Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to low clouds. While flying under VFR mode, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Smjörfjöll (1,251 meters high) located few km from the destination. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot continued to fly under VFR in adverse weather conditions. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed RC-121T Super Constellation in Keflavik

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1978 at 0900 LT
Operator:
Registration:
55-0121
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4394
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Keflavik Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly, causing the propellers of both left engine to struck the ground as well. A fuel tank was punctured and a fire erupted. All 17 occupants were able to evacuate safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear due to corrosion.

Crash of a Douglas C-117D Skytrain in Keflavik

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39096
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43338
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a hangar. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by brakes systems' failure.